Man faces 20 years to life after pleading guilty to drug charges

A Cattaraugus County man faces 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. reported Monday. Prosecutors charged that James Leon, 52, of Steamburg, was acquiring cocaine and marijuana from Houston, Texas, and distributing the drugs to customers in Western New York. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara is set for Feb. 4. Leon was arrested following the seizure of about 8 kilograms of cocaine and 100 pounds of marijuana last Nov. 15 by Drug Enforcement Administration agents at the home of Leon's co-defendant, Richard Himbury, 40, on St. Amelia Drive in the Town of Tonawanda. Himbury, described by authorities as one of the region's major drug suppliers, also pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 12.